Mastering academic language can be a hurdle for many students, especially those still finding their voices as writers. Too often, they mistake passive voice and inflated language for "smart" composition when in fact, it's just...bloated (e.g., In this passage, it can be seen by the reader that the said character is reclining upon a bench).
A different issue arises when students deal with responding to others' ideas. Run-on sentences and "drag-and-drop" quotes the student doesn't respond to are typical issues here. One outstanding resource is the book They Say, I Say, which addresses those academic "moves" in writing that help students genuinely address the texts, but not at the cost of their individual voices. |
In the book They Say, I Say, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein attempt to demystify academic language primarily by treating it as a series of transitions -- words, phrases and "moves that matter in academic writing" to transition a writer from one idea to the next. Graff and Birkenstein presents a series of templates students can use to make those "moves that matter," including agreeing or disagreeing with an author, introducing objections, making concessions, and concluding. Link: List of Common Templates |
Though specifically geared toward George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," this is an all-purpose writing assignment adaptable to many texts by a variety of authors.
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The Two-Paragraph Template You Will Use
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In his groundbreaking essay "Politics and the English Language," George Orwell contends that__________________________. Specifically, Orwell argues that the English language_______________________________: that is, ______________. Echoing this idea, Orwell himself observes, "_____________________________" (cite), which certainly suggests ________________________________ because________________________________. Although objectors might argue that ______________________________, very possibly saying that ____________________George Orwell fundamentally believes______________________________. Orwell insists that __________________________________ because________.
Orwell is [correct/incorrect/partly correct, particularly because ________________________________________. According to some skeptical readers, Orwell's view of the English language might be interpreted as _______________________. After all, _____________________________________, given that, __________________. Nevertheless, [champions of/detractors of/skeptics of] Orwell's position might respond that ________. Overall, Orwell is fundamentally [correct, incorrect, partly correct] -- an important point to make, given ________________________________________. |
Your Work Will Look Like This
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In his groundbreaking children's book The Lorax, children's author Dr. Seuss contends that the environment can only be saved if people are willing to accept individual responsibility both for its preservation and for its destruction. Specifically, Dr. Seuss argues that the overdevelopment of forests or other fragile ecosystems by manufacturing or corporate interests has improperly put financial gain over long-term survival: that is, since corporations put our money over our lives, corporations cannot solve the problem -- only individuals can. Echoing this idea, Seuss himself observes, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not" (Seuss 2), which certainly suggests the importance of assuming personal responsibility oneself because of Seuss's direct address to the reader, i.e., "someone like you," and the emphatic prediction that "nothing is going to get better" and repetition of "it's not" to hammer the point home. Although objectors might argue that individuals can do very little against the financial and political power wielded by a corporation despite Seuss's insistence, very possibly saying something to the effect of "What can we do about it?" Seuss fundamentally believes in the power of the individual to effect change. Seuss insists that "You're in charge" of the last of the Truffula-seeds, the seeds of the amazing trees devastated by deforestation and rampant economic exploitation of the landscape, again pinning direct responsibility for effecting change on the reader personally because only in that way can the reader understand that she or he has the power to save the environment from rapacious overdevelopment and destruction.
Seuss is partly correct, particularly because history has repeatedly shown that cultures and civilizations will effect their own death and destruction in a thoughtless, short-term quest for power -- hence, the deforestation of Easter Island and the destruction of that island's culture by the Easter Islanders. According to some skeptical readers, Seuss' view of the environment might be interpreted as extremely anti-capitalist in nature: after all, Seuss positions the Once-ler and his Thneed factory as rampant exploiters of the natural world who care more about making money than about any other value, given that. as the Once-ler himself states, "I went right on biggering... selling more Thneeds. And I biggered my money, which everyone needs" (Seuss 5) -- a fairly straightforward admission of money-before-all. Nevertheless, champions of Seuss's position would argue that if or when the environment is utterly ruined, there is little worth spending one's money on. Overall, Seuss is fundamentally correct -- an important point, given the advance in global warming, a point on which the scientific community is effectively unanimous. |